Illusttration of a woman wearing a headress with an eagle on it (the symbol of chicago) and text on her front on a dark horse with text on its side walking through water. In the background is another horse with a man in a hat riding it.

In the Chicago mayoral election of 1903, incumbent Carter Harrison, Jr. ran as a Democrat against Republican nominee Graeme Stewart. The idiom “don’t change horses in midstream” encourages readers to stick with their original track or, in this case, the incumbent in the election. The Chicago symbol "I Will" modified to be “I Will Not” is seen riding on the back of Harrison while William Lorimer, Republican political boss, is sinking behind Stewart. Lorimer was asking the people of Chicago (represented by “I Will Not”) to drop Harrison for Stewart, but that idea was protested.

The 1903 election was rife with political turmoil. Lorimer had been elected to the House of Representatives under illicit circumstances. Opponents demanded a recount and Stewart supported an injunction against the recount to support Lorimer. Reform-minded voters disapproved of this partisan gesture and helped reelect Harrison to his fourth of five terms as Mayor of Chicago. Stewart died two years later. Lorimer was later elected a U.S. Senator, but was convicted of bribery.

“I Will Not” is a reference to “I Will," a goddess designed by Charles Holloway in 1892. Shown wearing a crown with a rising phoenix and the phrase “I will” on her breastplate, she was meant to represent the spirit of Chicago in the same way that Uncle Sam is a symbol of America. “I Will” was an unofficial symbol of the 1893 World’s Fair. Changing “I Will” to “I Will Not” was a dig directed at Lorimer that 1903 Chicagoans would have recognized instantly.

Black text on a white background with a red and white checkered outer edge

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Blue circle with a yellow ring around the outside. Text on blue background is yellow; text on yellow background is blue.

Parisian Novelty Co. was a Chicago-based manufacturer of novelties founded in 1898 by Louis L Joseph. They manufactured a variety of advertising novelties, such as buttons, compacts, mirrors, and measuring tapes. The Busy Beaver Button Museum has several examples of their products, which can be seen here.

Their initial operating facility was located at 35th and Western Avenue in Chicago, but later moved to a new facility on 49th Place. In November of 2008, the company was split up, and the button division was acquired by the Matchless Group. The name was changed to Matchless Parisian Novelty, and they continue to operate out of their 49th Place Chicago facility.

Illustration of a yellow chick on a grey cracked egg background

The American Baby Chick Producers Association in Chicago was a group of individual agriculture professionals hatching eggs for sale to local individuals and chicken farms. Members used the endorsement of the association to increase their reputation and their business at conferences and in newspaper ads. In the 1929 Department of Commerce report—two years after this member was recognized for 25 years of service—this association consisted of 400 members within the Chicago area.

Illustration of an American flag above a blue sky with white clouds over a globe with green, grey and red text on top and an outer yellow edge with black text

The International Typographical Union was founded on May 3, 1852 and is one of the oldest trade unions in the United States, as well as one of the first to allow women members. They fought for better pay and hours for members by leading boycotts and strikes throughout the country, and in 1906, were successful in becoming one of the first unions to win an eight-hour-work day. They were integral in forming both the Federation of Organized Trades and Labor Unions and the Congress of Industrial Organizations and operated successfully well into the 20th century. By 1980, however, membership and activity had declined due to technological advances and fewer opportunities available for typographic workers. In 1987, the ITU merged with the Communications Workers of America and officially ceased to exist as an independent organization. 

Black text on a copper background

Chicago-based AdCraft Manufacturing Co. first began making buttons in 1919. The company initially offered products such as conference and luncheon badges, celluloid and metal buttons, ribbons and other advertising novelties and products. Their products ranged from traditional advertising buttons to conference badges. During the 1970s, the company branched out to do other kinds of advertising, including and not limited to signs and displays and became a leading supplier of buttons. Like other companies, political buttons served as one of the largest outputs of products. AdCraft’s ADCO Litho Line, sold in 1978, continued on in the button and advertising business until 2018.

Black text on a white background with an outer American flag background

Geraghty & Company was a Chicago-based button manufacturer known for their campaign badges, buttons, and other advertising novelties. The company was founded in 1893 by John J. Geraghty, former mayor of Streator, IL, with Geraghty lauded as a pioneer manufacturer when he opened a larger button factory at 3035 W. Lake Street in Chicago in 1909. By the early 1920s, Geraghty & Co turned its focus to promoting labor organizations and "Buy American Products."

Black and white headshot photograph with a black rectangle and white text and an outer red edge with white text

The Philadelphia Badge Company manufactured police badges, pinback buttons and employee id fobs. They are most know for their political and cartoon pinback buttons. The pinback buttons are their most sought after collector items.

Red and blue text around a thermometer attached to the button with an outer blue edge

Parisian Novelty Company was founded in Chicago, Illinois in 1898. The company was a leading manufacturer of button parts, button making machinery and equipment.

In 2008, The Matchless Group (founded 1885) purchased the Button division of Parisian Novelty Company to become the Matchless Parisian Novelty Inc. Matchless Parisian Novelty is currently operating and  specializes in button production, located in Chicago on West 49th Place. 

Green and gold illustration of a duck on green water with gold text and with a black half circle with gold text and a gold sky with black text

The Green Duck Metal Stamping Company was founded by George G. Greenburg and Harvey Ducgheisel in 1906 in Chicago, Illinois. They initially provided metal stamped medals, tokens, badges, and even casino chips, but also specialized in pinback buttons, advertising signs, and key tags. In 2004, after nearly a century of operating, Green Duck could not sustain operations and went out of business. Many of their buttons are considered collectors' items and can be found in popular archives such as Hakes Americana & Collectibles.